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To prevent this, and to deny Front Bay and Holcut Bay to an enemy, two 9-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns and two 32-pounder smooth-bore guns have been mounted on the plateau on Seera Island referred to by Sir W. Jervois and in the War Office Memorandum.
It would be well to substitute for these three 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns.
Appendix No. 4.
ADEN.
Seera Island.
3 10-in. M.L.R. guns (on lower plateau), 200 feet above the sea.
2 8-in. S.B. guns (on tower), 375
feet above the sea.
Cost-
Work
Armament
·
Total..
Garrison-
Artillery Infantry
Total..
£
•
1,000 11,000
•
12.000
Men.
70
85
155
Ras El Erigh.
160 feet above the sea.
Cost-
Two guns are proposed on El Erigh, at the right extremity of the isthmus lines. These would not only assist in the defence of Front Bay, but would also bring a fire 29-in. M.L.R. guns. to bear over the isthmus, and flank the long extent of beach on the eastern side of it, on which a landing could be effected in perfectly calm weather during the north-east monsoon. The two 9-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns proposed to be moved from Seera Island might be placed in this work.
£
Work
2,000
Armament on the spot.
Total..
2,000
Men.
20
15
•
Total..
35
It would not appear necessary to do anything to the tower on Seera Island, as recommended by the Committee. Two of the 8-inch smooth-bore guns now mounted there might be left to give a plunging fire into Holcut Bay and into the crater.
Ships can at present lie in Fisherman's Bay, where there is deep water close to the shore, unseen from any batteries, and could throw shells into the town and canton- ments from a distance of only 2,000 yards, and if it be considered necessary to keep ships at a distance from Seera Island and Holcut Bay, it would seem equally desirable to prevent them manœuvring in Fisherman's Bay.
Garrison
Artillery Infantry
Seera Tower.
2 8-in. S.B. guns. 375 feet above the sea.
Marshag Battery.
For this purpose Sir W. Jervois recommended mortars placed under the southern range, under cover of the work on Seera Island, but it would, I submit, be far preferable to place as proposed by General Tremenhere's Committee-a battery to mount say three 9-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns on the Marshag promontory, somewhere near the signal station. This work could be made perfectly secure at little cost. It would certainly have 3 9-in. M.L.R. gnns. the great disadvantage of being in an isolated and detached position, but if the establish- 250 feet above the sea. ments at the eastern end of Aden are to be made secure against destruction by bcmbard- Cost ment, such a work is absolutely required.
With a small barrack the work would probably be about 15,000l. The armament is already at Aden.
Work
15,000
Armament on the spot.
Total..
15,000
Garrison-
Artillery Infantry
Men.
30
65
Total..
95
Holcut Bay Flanking Battery,
Work
To prevent a boat landing in Holcut Bay it is proposed to place a battery on the shore level of Seera Island, in rear, near the causeway, but it is worthy of consideration whether 4 64-pr. M.L.R. guns. it would not be better to place a battery for light guns or machine guns on the opposite Cost shore on the projecting point between the two bays. This could be as well covered from seaward as a work on Seera Island, and would also bring a closer and more directly enfilading fire along the beach, a position for musketry fire being formed at the head of the point to oppose boats attempting to land on Seera Island to destroy the condenser there.
COST.
£
5,000
Armament
2,200
Total..
7,200
Garrison-
Artillery Infantry
Men.
40
120
**
Total..
160
For 64-prs.-
Works Armament
Total
£ 5,000
2,200
7,200
No apprehension need be entertained of a landing in Fisherman's Bay if the cliff be scarped.
Fisherman's Bay and Southern Range.
£1,500
No armament is recommended for Napier or Mansfield batteries, but the scarp of the Works southern range lines should be heightened where required, particularly at the western end or inner portion, and the communications across the old gaps in the lines should be improved and screened.
·
With regard to the extensive lines and batteries on the Munsoorie heights, and those Munsoorie Range. from the Main Pass to the barrier gate near Jebbel Huddeed, these would prevent an
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